PALGA Portal and Databank

What is the PALGA Portal?

The PALGA Portal is a one-stop online portal, combined with a logistic infrastructure, for the request and delivery of the pseudonymized data and samples (mostly FFPE blocks and tissue slides) that are available within the pathology labs (45+) in the Netherlands.

Why the PALGA Portal?Instead of having to send out multiple requests to multiple labs, researchers have a single online entry point to request and receive what they need for their research. The PALGA Portal allows and stimulates efficient, optimal and shared use of the available pathology tissues and data.

For who is the PALGA Portal?

Researchers that would like to request pathology data and/or samples.

Pathology labs that would like to have a tool to manage their own requests, and display and offer-for-use their pathology collections.

Ownership and history of the PALGA PortalThe PALGA Portal is owned, maintained and serviced by PALGA (The nationwide network and registry of histo- and cytopathology in the Netherlands). The PALGA Portal was developed within the DNTP-project (Dutch National Tissue Portal) under BBMRI-NL1.0 in collaboration with The Hyve. It was launched in November 2015. Since then, it received over 500 requests and handled more than 40.000 tissue blocks, slides and/or pathology reports.

New developmentsPALGA is developing innovative ways to link pathology data and material to other sources (e.d. from the Parelsnoer Institute). Once finalized these (linkage) services will be offered through Podium, the request Portal for data, images and material as developed within BBMRI2.0.

PALGA Portal and the GDPROn May 25, 2018, Europe’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) came into force. This regulation replaces the Dutch Algemene verordening gegevensbescherming (AVG). Here you can read more about the implications of the GDPR for the PALGA Portal and the use of pathology data and material for scientific research.